Vegetation hanger

ABSTRACT

A vegetation hanger includes a hanger portion and a crossbar. The hanger portion includes a first aperture, a stem, and a base. The first aperture is configured for handling of the vegetation hanger. The stem includes a first end portion and a second end portion. The stem extends from the first end portion towards the second end portion and defines a second aperture configured for hanging of the vegetation hanger. The crossbar is coupled to the hanger portion and defines a linear plate having a first edge, a second edge, a first end portion, and a second end portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/559,075, filed on Dec. 22, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/930,522, filed on Jul. 16, 2020, issued on Jun. 7, 2022, as U.S. Pat. No. 11,350,574, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/874,939, filed on Jul. 16, 2019, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a hanger and, more particularly, to a hanger for facilitating hang harvesting, transportation, drying and unloading of vegetation.

BACKGROUND

Vegetation such as plants, herbs, flowers, hemp and/or cannabis and other vegetation are frequently harvested and subsequently dried to produce a final product. Typically, during the drying process, vegetation is hung on plastic netting, which causes stress to the user and damages the vegetation. This process requires the vegetation to be hung one branch at a time and threaded through the netting to secure the vegetation. Removal of the vegetation also requires careful unthreading of the vegetation one branch at a time from the plastic netting. Other methods have been contemplated, such as clothing hangers, bailing wires, string and/or ropes, screens, chains, cages, fencing, and combinations thereof, all of which cause damage to the vegetation and stress to the user. Therefore, there is a need to provide a method of facilitating hang harvesting, transporting, drying, and unloading of vegetation without damaging the vegetation.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a hanger that includes a hanger portion and a crossbar coupled to the hanger portion to create a vegetation hanger to facilitate hang harvesting, transporting, drying and unloading of vegetation.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a vegetation hanger including a hanger portion and a crossbar. The hanger portion includes a first aperture, a stem, and a base. The first aperture is configured to permit handling of the vegetation hanger by a user. The stem includes a first end portion and a second end portion, and defines a second aperture. The second aperture is configured to permit hanging of the vegetation hanger from a support structure. The crossbar is coupled to the hanger portion and defines a linear plate having a first edge, a second edge, a first end portion, and a second end portion.

In aspects, the crossbar may include at least one ridge disposed along the first edge.

In aspects, the second edge of the cross bar may be bent at a predetermined angle relative to the crossbar.

In aspects, the predetermined angle may be 90 degrees.

In aspects, the first and second end portions of the crossbar may each include a lip.

In aspects, the crossbar may be tapered from a center point between the first and second end portions outwardly towards the first and second end portions.

In aspects, the crossbar and the hanger portion may be coupled via at least one fastener.

In aspects, the first aperture may be dimensioned to receive a hand.

In aspects, the second aperture may be configured to engage one of a bar or a wire.

In aspects, the second aperture may include a V-shaped notch.

In aspects, the vegetation hanger may be formed from one or more materials selected from metal, plastic, or composite materials.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of drying vegetation on a vegetation hanger. The method includes: hanging a vegetation hanger including a hanger portion and a crossbar on a support; hanging the vegetation on a first edge of the crossbar, the crossbar having at least one ridge disposed on the first edge to prevent movement of the vegetation; and carrying the vegetation hanger via a first aperture of the hanger portion, to transport the vegetation from a first location to a second location.

In aspects, the method may further include assembling the vegetation hanger by coupling the hanger portion to the crossbar.

In aspects, the hanger portion may be coupled to the crossbar with at least one fastener.

In aspects, carrying the vegetation hanger from a first location to a second location may include transporting the vegetation from a point of harvest to a final drying location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vegetation hanger in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a hanger portion of the vegetation hanger of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3A is a front view of a crossbar of the vegetation hanger of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3B is a side view of the crossbar of the vegetation hanger of FIG. 1 ; and

FIG. 4 is a front view of another exemplary vegetation hanger in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the presently disclosed vegetation hanger are described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a vegetation hanger provided in accordance with the present disclosure is shown generally identified by reference numeral 1. The vegetation hanger 1 generally includes a hanger portion 100 and a cross bar portion 200 coupled to the hanger portion 100.

As seen in FIG. 2 , the hanger portion 100 has a first end portion 100 a and a second end portion 100 b. The hanger portion 100 includes a first aperture 105, a stem 110, and a base 115. The first aperture 105 is disposed at the first end portion 100 a of the hanger portion 100 and is configured to facilitate handling of the vegetation hanger 1 by a user. The first aperture 105 may be dimensioned to receive a hand or one or more fingers of a user. The hanger portion 100 may be fabricated from a lightweight metal, plastic, composite material, or any other suitable material. The first end portion 100 a may be dipped in a rubber composition, or any other suitable material to provide a comfortable grip using the first aperture. The first aperture 105 is further configured to receive a zip tie or any suitable fasteners. A body of the hanger portion 100 is configured to receive a label disposed along the body of the hanger portion 100, in which both the zip tie and the label contain harvest information such as, for example, name of harvest, strain, and/or date and time of harvest, in order to facilitate labeling of the harvest.

The stem 110 extends the first end portion 100 a towards a second end portion 100 b defining a second aperture 120. The second aperture 120 is configured to facilitate hanging of the vegetation hanger 1 on a support or mounting surface, such as, for example, a pole, horizontal bar, hook, or rack. The second aperture 120 may be dimensioned to receive a specific support, such as for example a horizontal bar with a rectangular dimension. As another example, the second aperture 120 may have a top end portion that may include a V-shaped notch 120 a at the top of the second aperture 120 to facilitate the use of the vegetation hanger 1 on wire, string, rope, plastic netting, chain, cage or fencing.

The base 115 of the hanger portion 100 is disposed at the second end portion 100 b and may be coupled to the crossbar 200. The base 115 may be coupled to the crossbar 200 by ultrasonic welding, magnets, adhesive, cord, or fasteners 112 a, 112 b as shown. The fasteners 112 a, 112 b may be bolts, screws, or any other suitable fasteners. The base 115, when coupled to the crossbar 200, is dimensioned to be flush with the crossbar 200.

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the crossbar 200 includes a linear plate 201 configured to facilitate the hanging of vegetation thereon. The linear plate 201 includes a first end portion 200 a and second end portion 200 b, a top edge 200 c, and bottom edge 200 d. At least a portion of top edge 200 c of the linear plate 201 includes at least one ridge, or alternatively as shown, a serrated or textured surface including a series or plurality of ridges 210, disposed along the top edge 200 c. The series of ridges are configured to prevent vegetation from sliding off the crossbar 200 and to provide organization of the vegetation on the series of ridges 210. The linear plate 201 may include openings 212 a, 212 b to receive the fasteners 112 a, 112 b to couple the crossbar 200 to the hanging portion 100. The linear plate 201 includes one or more lips 205 a, 205 b disposed on the first and second end portions 200 a, 200 b, respectively. The lips 205 a, 205 b are configured to prevent unintended lateral movement of the vegetation off the first and second end portions 200 a, 200 b. When intended, lateral movement of all the vegetation hung on the crossbar 200 at once may be initiated by a user.

With reference to FIG. 3B, the bottom edge 200 d is configured to be bent to a predetermined angle such as, for example, 90 degrees, relative to the linear plate 201 to provide additional strength to the linear plate 201 in carrying vegetation on the linear plate 201.

The linear plate 201 may be fabricated at any suitable length, which, as non-limiting examples, may be one of 21″, 41″, or 61″ to accommodate different open spaces, the amount of vegetation to be dried, and the support of vegetation within a drying system. The crossbar 200 may be fabricated from a lightweight metal, plastic, composite material, or any other suitable material. The vegetation hanger 1 may be configured to be flat providing a minimal thickness to allow for stacking and storage of multiple vegetation hanger(s). It should be understood that the hanger portion 100 and the crossbar 200 may be fabricated into a single unit, instead of being two components coupled to one another.

With reference to FIG. 4 , the linear plate 201 may be configured to be tapered in two directions from a center point 215 between the first end portion 200 a and the second end portion 200 b outwardly towards each of the first end portion 200 a and the second end portion 200 b.

In operation to dry vegetation, the vegetation hanger 1, including the hanger portion 100 and the crossbar 200, is hung on a support or a mounting surface at the point of harvest. The vegetation may be cut (e.g., to about 24″ in length) and hung along the top edge 200 c of the crossbar 200. Each piece of harvested vegetation can be placed between adjacent ridges of the series of ridges 210 to prevent individual movement of the vegetation. Once all the vegetation has been placed on the crossbar 200 of the vegetation hanger 1, the vegetation hanger 1 may be carried (e.g., by a user) via the first aperture 105 from the point of harvest to the final drying location.

While several embodiments of the disclosure have been detailed above and are shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description and accompanying drawings should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A vegetation hanger, comprising: a hanger portion, including: a top end portion including an upper section, a mid section, and a lower section, the upper section defining a first aperture defining a handle, and the lower section of the top end portion including a first lower portion and a second lower portion separated and spaced apart from each other by a second aperture defined between the first lower portion and the second lower portion, the second aperture configured to permit hanging the vegetation hanger from a support structure, wherein opposed side edges of the top end portion taper downwardly from the upper section to a bottom portion of the lower section, such that the upper section of the top end portion is wider than the lower section of the top end portion; and an extension member extending downwardly from the first lower portion of the lower section, the extension member including a straight upper portion and an angled lower portion that is slanted relative to the straight upper portion, and a crossbar extending from the extension member of the hanger portion and configured to support vegetation thereon, the crossbar including: a serrated upper edge, a bottom edge, a first end portion, and a second end portion, the first end portion including a first lip and the second end portion including a second lip, wherein the serrated upper edge defines a plurality of ridges configured to prevent the vegetation from sliding off the crossbar.
 2. The vegetation hanger according to claim 1, wherein the extension member includes a stem and a base extending from a bottom end portion of the stem.
 3. The vegetation hanger according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first lip and the second lip includes an upwardly protruding lip.
 4. The vegetation hanger according to claim 1, wherein the first aperture forms a substantially elongated oval shape.
 5. The vegetation hanger according to claim 1, wherein the crossbar is undulating along substantially an entire length of the serrated upper edge.
 6. The vegetation hanger according to claim 1, wherein the vegetation hanger is fabricated from at least one of metal, plastic, or a composite material.
 7. The vegetation hanger according to claim 1, wherein the second aperture defines a longitudinal axis that intersects a central portion of the first aperture and a central portion of the crossbar.
 8. The vegetation hanger according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ridges of the serrated upper edge is arcuate.
 9. The vegetation hanger according to claim 1, wherein the first aperture has a length extending parallel with a length of the crossbar, and the second aperture has a length that is perpendicular to the length of the crossbar.
 10. A vegetation hanger, comprising: a hanger portion, including: a top end portion including an upper section, a mid section, and a lower section, the upper section defining a first aperture defining a handle, and the lower section of the top end portion including a first lower portion and a second lower portion separated and spaced apart from each other by a second aperture defined between the first lower portion and the second lower portion, the second aperture configured to permit hanging the vegetation hanger from a support structure; and an extension member extending downwardly from the first lower portion of the lower section of the top end portion, and a crossbar extending from the extension member of the hanger portion and configured to support vegetation thereon, the crossbar including: a serrated upper edge, a bottom edge, a first end portion, and a second end portion, the first end portion including a first lip and the second end portion including a second lip, wherein the serrated upper edge defines a plurality of ridges configured to prevent the vegetation from sliding off the crossbar.
 11. The vegetation hanger according to claim 10, wherein the extension member includes a stem and a base extending from a bottom end portion of the stem.
 12. The vegetation hanger according to claim 10, wherein the extension member includes a straight upper portion and an angled lower portion that is slanted relative to the straight upper portion.
 13. The vegetation hanger according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first lip and the second lip includes an upwardly protruding lip.
 14. The vegetation hanger according to claim 10, wherein opposed side edges of the top end portion taper downwardly from the upper section to a bottom portion of the lower section, such that the upper section of the top end portion is wider than the lower section of the top end portion.
 15. The vegetation hanger according to claim 10, wherein the first aperture forms a substantially elongated oval shape.
 16. The vegetation hanger according to claim 10, wherein the crossbar is undulating along substantially an entire length of the serrated upper edge.
 17. The vegetation hanger according to claim 10, wherein the second aperture defines a longitudinal axis that intersects a central portion of the first aperture and a central portion of the crossbar.
 18. The vegetation hanger according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of ridges of the serrated upper edge is arcuate.
 19. The vegetation hanger according to claim 10, wherein the first aperture has a length extending parallel with a length of the crossbar, and the second aperture has a length that is perpendicular to the length of the crossbar.
 20. A vegetation hanger, comprising: a hanger portion, including: a top end portion including an upper section, a mid section, and a lower section, the upper section defining a first aperture defining a handle, and the lower section of the top end portion including a first lower portion and a second lower portion separated and spaced apart from each other by a second aperture defined between the first lower portion and the second lower portion, the second aperture configured to permit hanging the vegetation hanger from a support structure; and an extension member extending downwardly from the first lower portion of the lower section of the top end portion, and a crossbar extending from the extension member of the hanger portion and configured to support vegetation thereon, the crossbar including: a first edge, a second edge, a first end portion, a second end portion, and a center point disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first edge including at least one ridge disposed along the first edge, the first end portion including a first lip, and the second end portion including a second lip. 